Stapling apparatus



NOV. 8, 1949v s, LEBER ETAL y 2,487,565

STAPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fnvewors ,Samue Leer Ene/Z E Z e Zier @H220 'zeg 6 Y 55 L v 124/2 5 Nov. 8, 1949 s. LEBER ET AL v 487,565

STAPLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 27, 194e 2 sheets-sheet 2 2120 7% eey vsembled. i

Patented Nov. 8,

Samuel Leber, Belle Harbor, vand Emil U. Zeller, j Belle Rose; N.v Yg, yassignors to Consolidated Wire Products Co., New York, N. Y., a partnership v Y Application November 27, 1946, Serial No. 712,710

' 9 Claims.'

Our present' invention relates to a'staplin'g apparatus and more particularly to that type "of.

stapling apparatus; which is portable" and"""is adapted to be used on 'a desk and whichfurther may be removed from the base 'andfused vas 'a hand stapling device whenever such use is desired.

While there have been many types of stapling devices in the past, some of which are fairly satis-v factory, a difculty has varisen with some yat least of these earlier devices due to the tendency thereof to jam, possibly in part du'e to the construction of the apparatus itself and possibly due to imperfect staples orto foreign `matternding its Way into the interior of rthe appa-A ratus. Such prior art devices have usually been quite difficult -to take apart for thepurpose of clearing such jams, at least without special tools. Among the' principal .objects of the invention, therefore, are to provide an improved typerof stapling device of thisgeneral character, which may be 'readily disassembled without requiring any special tools to a sufficient extent to clear any jams which may occur incident to defective staples or foreign matter finding its way -into the apparatus and which may again bewreadily reassembled. As thus reassembled,- theparts will be accurately positioned, so that the ievicewill operate at its maximum emciency. y a

A further objectr is to provide forthe complete disassembly of the apparatus with a minimum of tools so as to permit the replacement of any parts which have become so Worn inv use or broken for some reason and tov permit the rapid reassembly of the device in an accurate manner.y A ,f v

A further general object of the present inveny tion is to provide apparatus of the character de. scribed, which may be readily .assembled by reif atively unskilled operators and be assuredyof accurate assembly and proper operation when as- Further and moredetailed objects of the present invention will become apparent from ther fol-l lowing description and appended claimsgwhen considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which: V v

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred-form of stapling apparatus in accordance With'the kpresent invention;

Fig. 2 is a View of thisv apparatusv takensubstantially in vertical section on Ythe line 2 ,2 .of Fiel; l f

Fig. 3 is a View insection somewhat inclined to the vertical taken Sililstantiallyv onvthe line -ofrig-Z: f l

Fig. 4- is a similar section taken on the broke line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view, substantially in plan of one end portion of the base taken on the line 5-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. '7 is a detailed View substantially in vertical section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detailed view in section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view substantially in plan of the right hand end portion of the base as seen in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 10 is a view substantially in plan, similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a somewhat modiedform of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentaryview in elevation of I the left hand portion of the device shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a foreshortened view, the central portion Ibeing broken out and omitted, of the base of the apparatus shown in Fig. 10, the view being substantially in plan;

Fig. 13 is a view of the device of Fig. 10 sub'- stantially in vertical section on the line |3-l3 thereof; l

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary View in section broken line Ill- Hl of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view in section on the line l5-l5 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary View in section on the line lli- I6 of Fig. 13; and T Fig. 17 is a vieW substantially in perspective of the staple follower used in both forms of the invention.

In 4considering the two forms of the devic shown in the accompanying drawings, .the description of both will be carried on simultaneously as the functions in general of the several parts of each are substantially equivalents` respectively andthe variations vcan best be pointed out in this manner. Y

The apparatus consists in general of three sep arate assemblies: a base or base'assembly gen-V erally designated at I in' the form ofthe in,-

on the vention of Figs. 1 9 and designated at 2.in^the form of the invention in Figs. 10 to 16, a staple magazine assembly designated 3 in the f'orrn of the invention of Figs. 1 to 9 and at dinthe form of the invention of Figs. 10-16, `and a head assembly designated 5 in the ,form of Figs. 1. nto 9, and 6 in the` form of Figs. 10 to 16.k A

Means are provided in both form's of the ina vention for removing the base assembly ,from the 3 remaining parts so as to permit such remaining parts to be used separately as in the stapling or tacking of a staple into wood, bulletin boards or work of that nature. Such means forms per se and generally no part of the present invention as this subject matter is disclosed in Hoehn Patent No. 1,507,775, granted September 9, 1924;"

Means are also provided as hereinafter set forth in detail for removing the head assembly as a unit from the magazine assembly for permitting the clearing of jams, which mayoccur as aforesaid incident to defective staples or to dirt or other foreign matter getting into the apparatus. This operation is so arranged as to require no tools of any kind, yet upon reassembly the parts are positively secured in an exactly predetermined position, so that the device will operate at maximum elciency.

Referring first to Ithe rst form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 9, the base assembly I comprises a main' base member 'I which may be struck up from sheet metal by a stamping operation and which has downwardly turned edge portions to give it a finished appearance. This member may be nished on the outside, i. e., the top, in any manner usual for the nishing of metal par-ts. At its forward and rear ends the base member 'I carries suitablev pads 8 and 9 of resilient material, such as rubber, for the purpose of preventing damage or scarring to any surface such as the top of a desk on which the device may be supported. As shown, the rubber parts 8 and 9 are secured to the base member I by inwardly turned integral tabs I6 andv II respectively (Fig. 2).

The base member I may be formed with a suitably shaped recess as indicated at I2 in which is located an anvil member -I3. This member vmay be secured to the base by a pin I4 rigid therewith extending through an aperture in the base and carrying a head I5 riveted or otherwise secured thereon, a compression spring I6 being located between the head I5 and the underside of that portion of the base within the depression I2. As best shown in Fig. 6, the anvil may have three sets of staple turning die portions I1, I8 and I9 for turning the ends of the staples, both inwardI ly, both outwardly, and one in and one out respectively. As the depression I2 is substantially triangular in horizontal cross section and shaped similarly to the outer horizontal contour of the anvil member I3, the latter may be moved upwardly against the compression of the spring I6 and rotated to bring a desired one of the die `sets into alignment with the path of a staple rbeing driven by the means hereinafter described.

' Turning now to the Figs. 10L16 form of the invention, a similar base is provided having similar pads 2| and 22 suitably secured thereto and having an anvil member 23, which may be connected by a cotter pin 24 or some similar device through the base to a washer shown at 25, this washer being located in a depression formed in the rubber pad 2|, which in this case serves the function of the spring I6. The anvil 23 has a principal circular portion received within a circular depression in the base 26 and has an actuating arm 26 which may be located in either of a pair of depressions separated by a hump portion 2'I of the base 20, Fig. 12, to locate the anvil positively in either of two positions. This anvil is provided with two die portions 28 vfor turning the staple ends inwardly and 29 for turning them outwardly. It is contemplated that either form of anvil may be used in accordance 4 with the present invention, or a single die-type anvil fixed in character as is conventional with many prior art devices may also be used.

The next feature of the device to be described is the means for mounting the magazine assembly and head assembly as a unit on the base assembly and for providingthe normal resilient force tending to keep the forward end of the magazine and head assemblies above the anvil,

'iso as to permit the insertion of work to be stapled therebetween.

Referring now to the Figs. 1 to 9 form of the invention, the base member I is provided with a punched out portion providing an aperture 36 having substantially vertical side anges 3I and 32 between which the magazine assembly 3 is arranged to be pivoted. The magazine assembly 3 itself includes an outer channel-like member 33 which has formed therein a pair of aligned recesses or slots 34 for receiving inwardly punched stud portions 35 of the side flanges 3l and 32. By this construction a hinge means is provided without the use of any separate parts, the pins or studs 35 normally resting in pivotal relation on the lower ends of the depressions or slots 34.

Resilient means are provided for urging the rear end of the magazine assembly and parts moving therewith upwardly', so as to'retain the lower ends of the recesses or slots 34 against the studs 35. resilient leaf spring 36, which may be secured to the base 'I in any suitable manner as by rivets 3'I, see Figs. 2 and 9. In order, however, that the spring 36 be effective not only to retain the hinged parts in their desired location, but also to urge the magazine assembly and parts carried thereby to the position of these parts shown in Fig. 2, permitting the insertion of work to be stapled, the bearing point of the spring 36 on the underside of the magazine assembly 3 shown at 38 is to the left, as seen in Fig. 2, of the hingel point for the magazine assembly, i. e., between this point and the point at which staples are.

thereby may then be moved to the left as seen in Fig. 2, so as to disengage them completely from the base assembly I. This operation requires no tools and is so simple that it may be performed by any unskilled person. Upon reassembly of the` parts by reversing the operation, these parts are held in an exactly predetermined position with respect to one another, so that the device will operate properly.

Considering now the similar parts of theform of the invention shown in Figs. 1016,'the base 20 is provided with a separate part 36 secured thereto as by screws 40. The part 39 is U-shaped in cross section and provides a pair of upstanding flanges 4I, which are in turn provided with inv` wardly directed studs 42. In this form of the invention the studs may be formed as separate parts suitably rigidly carried by the flanges lll. The magazine assembly 4 shown in this form of the invention is similarly provided with an outer channel-like member 43 having slots or recesses 34 formed therein corresponding to the similarly numbered recesses shown in Fig. 2 and engaging the studs 42 in a similar manner. In 'this case For this purpose there is shownY av g; there is provided a resilientl leaf lspring 'means 44 carried by one of the screws 40 and bearing upon afree floating plunger member 45, which projects through aligned apertures in the base 20 and the member 39 and engages theunderside of the channel member 43 of the magazine as-` the member 33 is an inner'channel member 41 formed as a U-shaped channel and suitably secured to the member 33. For thefpurpose of locating these members with respect to one another in the assembly thereof the outer member 33 may be formed with one or more punched-up portions as shown at 48, Fig. l, and the inner member'formed with corresponding punched-out portions or apertures in alignment therewith for predetermining the proper assembled positions of the parts. This serves the operators in the assembly operation in locating the parts, after which they ma'y be spot welded together or other- Wise suitably secured to one another.

The inner member 41 provides a staple support for receiving thereon a stack of staples as indcated at 49, Figs. 2, 3 and 4; The staples are loaded into the rearward end of the channels thus formed, at the right as seen in Fig. 2, and thereafter are conned between the upper edges of the inner channel 41 and the inturned edges 46 of the outer member 33, thus positively prevent-- ing any dislocation of the staples in use. y

A staple follower generally indicated at 5U is provided, this follower being shown in perspective in Fig. 1'1 and having substantially the cross section of a stack of staples with the exception of a central raised rib portion 5I provided for a purpose hereinafter described and a `struck-up hook portion 52 at the rear thereof for connection with the means by which the follower is resiliently urged forwardly to move the stack of staples 49 to the staple driving position,l i. e.,tol

the left as seen in Fig. 2.

A Referring now to the form of the inventionv shown in Figs. 10-16, the inner member of the staple magazine may be formed of a downwardly turned channel 53 having an inner solid block 54 therein and these parts held together by screws o rothersimilar means as shown at 55, and to the' outer member'43 by screws 56. The function of the parts is substantially the same, however, in both forms of the invention, the outer member 43 in this form similarly having inturned flangesY designated at 46 and corresponding to thel similarly numbered portions of theoute'r member '373, shown in the preferred form of the invention.

Means are provided in accordance with the presentY invention for removably securing the head assembly to the magazine assembly and for positioning these assemblies accurately when they are reassembled. This becomes important for the reason that the head assembly includes an outer member 51, which is substantially U-shaped in horizontal cross section and includes a front por'- tion 58 and vertical side wall portions '59. The

plunger means or staple driving means includes between this front portion 'and the left hand end,

' assembly; as too large a space would permit more than one staple to get into the space and cause a jam, while too small a space would prevent even a single staple from being driven.

Referring now to both forms of the invention, means are provided; including at least one horizontal recess in one of these assemblies and a stud in the other thereof, Icooperating with said recess, for locatingy the head assembly in respect -to the magazine assembly at least about the center of the stud. Additionalmeans are thenprovided to prevent relative rotation about this center, in this case such additional means include additional studs and recesses spaced longitudinally of the magazine assembly from the 'firstnamed stud. From a broad point of view it is immaterial which of the assemblies the recess is formed in and which the stud is formed on. The means for preventing rotation about the rst stud may from a broad point of view be a part of the head assembly resting upon the magazine asl sembly or otherwise engaged therewith.

In both forms of the invention, however, there are shown a pair of `aligned slots 6l formed in the lower rear edge of the side wall portions 59,'these slots being an example of recesses which may or may not extend completely through the thickness of the walls 59 and with which cooperate a pair of aligned'outwardly extending studs 62 as best shown -in Figs. y2 and 8 for the first form of the invention, and in Figs. 11 and 13 for the second form thereof. As particularly shown in Fig. 8, the stud 62 may in practice be formed by striking outwardly portions of the outer member 33 of the magazine assembly at the appropriate points.

The means for holding the head assembly against rotation about the axis of the studs 62 is shown as a pair of inwardly directed and aligned studs 63, Figs. 2, 3 and 8, formed by striking inwardly portions of the outer head member 51 or as separate parts as shown for the corresponding numbered studs in Figs. 11 and 13, these studs cooperating witha pair of aligned, horizontally extending slots 64 formed in the left hand end as seen in Figs. 2 and 13 of the outer channel members 33 or 43 of the magazine assembly.

It will be seen that by the pin and recess or slot connections just described, the head assemblyfwillbe prevented fromrotation in respect to the magazine assembly `and will be prevented from allr4 movement in respect thereto withthe exception of a movement longitudinally of the magazine assembly, the slots or recesses 6l and 64 all being parallel to' the longitudinal extent of the magazine assembly. t y

' Means are provided, which are somewhat different in the two forms 'of the `invention for locking the headiassembly tothe magazine assembly against movement longitudinally ofvv the latter.

ative position in recesses formed in the underside of the magazine assembly and in the lower edges of the side wall portions 59 of the outer member 51 of the head assembly. These recesses are of such dimensions as closely t embrace the latch member 85, while permitting the free movement thereof in a substantially vertical direction, which is in particular, perpendicular tothe 1ongitudlnal extent of the magazine assembly,

As shown best in Figs. 2 and 4 the latch member 65 has rigid therewith Aa stud 66 extending through an aperture of the magazine assembly centrally thereof and carrying a head or washer 61 at its upper end, a compression spring 68 surrounding this `stud between the washer and the upper surface of the web of the magazine assembly through which the stud passes. By this construction the latch 65 is always urged upwardly 'towards its operative position and dislocation thereof from the magazine assembly is positively prevented. The engagement of the latch 1i5 with the lateral side portions of the recesses in the side Wall portions 59, with which it engages, positively prevents lateral movement of the head assembly in respect to the magazine assembly in 'a direction .longitudinal lof the latter and thus serves completely to lock these as semblies in .an exactly predetermined position in respect to each other. v

Referring now to the form of the `invention shown in Figs. to 16 there Visprovided a 'latch 69 generally corresponding to the latch member 65, but somewhat differently shaped, as particularly shown in Fig. l5, in that the central `portion thereof is bent upwardly to form ya recess for a leaf spring 1U, which may be secured to the magazine assembly 4 in any suitable way as by `one or more rivets 1l and have its free end disposed below the latch 65. The spring 1G urges the ,latch 469 upwardly at all times into transversely aligned recesses substantially embracing the latch in its operative position and formed in the magazine assembly y4 and in the side Wall portions 59 of the outer member 51 of the head assembly. The operation is .substantially the same as that described for the preceding figures.

Considering now the construction Vof the head assembly `per se, it comprises, as hereinabove described, an outer'structural member 51 forming the front and side walls of a housing for the head assembly and an inner structural member generally designated as 12 `which is given the same designation as to both forms of the invention as these parts are substantially similar With the exception of certain minor dilerences, which will be pointed out as the description 4proceeds. The inner structural member 12 is vpref-v erably formed from a single ,piece of sheet metal suitably shaped and bent to a `desired conformation. This piece is formed to provide a substantially vertical front wall 13, side walls 14 and 15 bent rearwardly from the front Wall, a top wall portion 16 bent rearwardly from the front wall all.

andforming with vthe side wall portions 59 and front wall 58 of the outer member 51 a housing for the head assembly, `and a forwardly direct ed shelf portion 11.

Means are provided for securing the inner and. outer members of the head assembly together in their operative assembled relation. For this purpose there are shown two pins 18 and 19, which pass through the side wall portions 53 of the outer member 51 and through suitably aligned apertures formed in the inner member 12. These pins preferably have a drive fit, so as to hold the members together by their frictional engagement with the apertures in the outer member. They may, however, be removed by the use yof a punch should this removing become necessary, as `for the replacement of some one or more parts. They are not, however, normally `disassernlrlled during the ordinary use of the device.

As a further means for holding the head in las sembled relation, the latch member or 59 is provided with upstanding side Wing portions, as best shown at 80, Figs. 4,-10, ll and 15. These side portions serve to embrace the lower edges of the sides 59 of the :outer .member 51 and hold these parts in assembled relation. The side por tions f8!) of the .latches yfurther serve as hand grip portions for use in moving the ylatches to their lower positions, permitting the disassembly of the parts as above set forth.

The inner and Vouter members 12 and 51 forming the head assembly, as aforesaid, together denne a passage or Aslideway for the main body portion of the depressible plunger indicated at 8|. This is defined on three sides by the front and .side portions -58 and 59 of the outer membei` y51 of the head assembly and on the fourth side bythe front wall 13 of. the inner member 12 of the head assembly. The body portion 8l of the .plunger may also be formed of sheet metal as the other `partaand for this purpose is formed substantially rectangular in cross section, being bent at right angles at :each corner to form a substantially `vertical pillar-like structure, the

top of which may be closed by a bent-over portion of the frontsurface as shown at 82. To the upper end of this structure and particularly to the part 82 thereof, a suitable cap or striking member 83 may be secured many suitable manner as by spot welding.- The driving blade 60 may be suitably secured as by riveting or in 4any other suitable way to the front surface of the body portion l8l, thus providing a hollow column structure carrying the blade 60. This blade .and thesides of the structure 8l are arranged in sliding relation with the other parts previously described, thus guiding the yplunger in its .movement.

The shelf 11 may be `formed with a struck-up center stud portion 84,Fig. 2, or .this portion may be Iformed as a separate .part as shown at 85,- Fg. 13. Located `by the stud .portions 84 `or 85 is a long compression spring `88 vreceived within the hollow body portion 8l and serving to urge the plunger and parts `moving therewith to .its uppermost position.

Means are .provided `for determining the upper and .lower positions of .the plunger structure, thus formed, andparticularlyfor .preventing contact between the lower .portion of the .plunger body 8l and the stack of staples 49 being moved toward the staple driving position in alignment with the blade 60. This is the primary function of the shelf 11 .in laddition to its function to provide an .abutment for the spring 86. As will be seen in Figs. `2 and 13, the lower-end of the body -portion 8| will engage against the shelf 11 and thereby will be prevented from engagingany of the staples in the stack 49 thereof.

For determiningthe upper end limit ofthe movement of the plunger structure, a part of the front wall 13 maybe struck outwardly, as shown at 81 in Fig. 2, or a separate part B8 may be secured to the front wally 13 of the inner member of the head assembly as seen bestin Fig. 14. In either case this abutment normally works in an aperture 89 formed in Athe rear wall of the hollowybody portion 8l of -the Aplunger and serves to engage the lower end yof this aperture as best shown in Fig. 2. f vThus should --thespring 86 break,fit `may be replaced by-withdrawing pins' 18 and 19, removf ing the inside-member -12 of the head assembly and then withdrawing the plunger structure complete. The assembly ofthese parts may-be effected ina reverse manner. f

While anumber of different arrangements might be used to exert a resilient force on the stack of staples 49 to -urge them to a position in which the endmost staple'may be driven by in the accompanying drawings an jarrangement by which the follower 59 is urged to the left as seen in Figs. 2 and 13 for the two forms of the invention 'by a strip-like spring, one end of which is coiled to exert a tension on the other end, such arrangements being sometimes known as a clockwise spring, although this expression does not necessarily have anything to `do with the direction in' which the spring is wound, which depends upon the side from which it iss-viewed. Such a spring is shown in Athe accompanyingdrawings at 90. The inner end portion of the spring 90 is wound in a coil illustrated at 9|,in Figs. 2, 4 and 14.

Means are provided for holding the inner endof this coil against rotation upon the stretching of the spring or under the tension-thereof. For this purpose there is employed raslotted pin` 92, which receives inthe slot thereof the inner end of the spring 90. vThe pin 92 is held, as best shown in Fig. 4 and 14, in a pair of aligned apertures in the inner member 12 of the head assembly. Rotation of this pin and hence of the innery end of the spring is prevented by-providing it with a non-circular head 93, in thiscase square, for the pin 92. This head 93-is'received in a suitably shaped `depression preferably having at lease onefiat side for'engaging a flat side of the head 93. In the present instance, we have E found it desirable to provide vsuch depressions in the form of -vertical depressions or grooves, as2 indicated at94 and best `shown in substantiallyhorizontal section in Fig. 14. This form is chosen for facilityin manufacturing but is not essential except ,that there be a depression'in at least one side of the member 12 of sucient depth tore ceive the head 93 of the pin v92 and of such shape as to prevent the rotation of this pin.l

However, by -the present means, the pin may bev adjusted in rotation in quarter-turn increments:

. The ,other end Aofythespring 9D may. have ai suitableiittirig 95 securedlthereto and provided.-

the driving blade 60, We have chosen to show with* an aperture 96 'to' engage-over thehook portion 52 of the follower '50. As shown, the fitting 95 further has a-hooked portion 91 by which it may be readily grasped for engaging it with the follower as particularly shown in the accompanying drawings. I In the usual operation of the device, i. e., with thevparts in the positions shown in Figs. 2 or 13, the spring 90 extends through a slot or aperture in the cover orV top wall portion 16 of the housing for the headvassemblythis slot or aperture being shown at 98. When it is desired to fill a stack of staples into the device, the fitting 95 is disengaged from the hook portion 52 of the follower 59 and Vplaced at an inoperative position. The follower is then withdrawn completely from the apparatus, the ystaples inserted, and the follower re-inserted and again hooked to the fitting 95. InV order to provide a satisfactory inoperative position for the fitting 95 andthe spring 90 when the refillingoperation is taking place, we have provided an enlargement as shown at 99 for the aperture or slot 98 which is adapted toreceive the fitting l95 and hold it in an out of the way position.

Another feature of considerably practical interest which is embodied in the present invention is the provision of means by which, in the event that there are no staples in the apparatus, the blade isprevented from coming into abutting contact, as distinguished from silding contact,- with any part of the-staple follower 59. For this purpose the raised or rib portion 5I of the follower 50 is provided, the forward end of which `is indicated at |90, Fig. 1'1, and this end being flush with the leading .end of this follower and of such height that it'will abut against the side of; the blade 60 at the uppermost position of the latter, thus permitting the blade to move past the follower without damage to either. The lower portion of the -inside member 12 of the head assembly is of suflicient height above the path of the follower 59as to permit that followei` to -move completely up to -a position in engagement with'the side of the blade 60, s'o as to per mit the driving of the last staple of a group or stack thereof." In-this'way the device is arranged for maximum efficiency in the use of staples prior to the, requirement for the refilling of the apparatusr with additional staples,l while positively preventing anyv undesired operation incident' to such use.

i While we have herein, shown and described but two embodiments of the present invention. some"variants' thereof have been suggested and others will occur to those skilled'in the art.y We do not wishv to'b'e limited, therefore, except" byY the scope of the' appended claims, which are tobe construedv'alidly4 as broadly as the state of the prior art permits.

What is claimedis: 1.r A stapling apparatus, comprising an 'elongate staple magazine assembly, a head assemblyv adapte'd'to `be secured to said magazine assembly 'and' including means-'forsuccessively 4driving staples supplied from said magazine assembly, and means for removably securing said head as-` sembly to 'said magazinev assembly and for locating said head assembly in' an exactly prede.

5 termined position 'on 'said magazine assembly when the parts are inl their operative position, the last named means including a longitudinally disposed recess in one of said assemblies anda stud for cooperation'with said recess on the other of 'said assemblies, means vforpreventing relativel 13 directed inwardly from parts of said head assembly for cooperation with said slots, a pair of aligned and outwardly directed studs formed on said magazine assembly, a pair of slots formed in depending side Wall portions of said head assembly for cooperating with the last named studs, all said slots being disposed in a direction longitudinal of said magazine assembly when the parts are assembled, whereby said assemblies are prevented from relative movement in a direction laterally of said magazine assembly by all said slots and studs, and a resiliently mounted latch means separate and distinct from the means previously recited and mounted in one of said assemblies and engaging a recess in the other for preventing relative movement of said assemblies longitudinally of said magazine assembly.

8'. A stapling apparatus, comprising an elongate staple magazine assembly, a head assembly adapted to be secured to said magazine assembly and including an outer member formed of sheet metal and having a forward portion and side portions integral therewith and directed rearwardly therefrom, and means for successively driving staples supplied from said magazine assembly, and means for removably securing said head assembly to said magazine assembly and for locating said head assembly in an exactly predetermined position on said magazine vassembly when the parts are in their operative position, the last named means including a substantially U-shaped latch member carried by said magazine assembly and having upwardly directed arms embracing the side portions of said head assembly, said side portions having recesses for receiving the bight of the U of said latch for locating said head assembly in a' direction longitudinal of said magazine assembly, and the arm portions 14 of said latch serving at least in part to prevent lateral dislocation of the side portions of said head assembly and further serving as hand grip portions for releasing said latch.

9. A stapling apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said head assembly includes an inner member removably associated with said outer member and serving therewith to conne a depressable plunger forming a part of said head assembly and serving to drive staples supplied from said magazine assembly, means removably securing said inner and outer members of said head assembly together and serving in conjunction With said latch in preventing lateral dislocation of the side portions of said head assembly, whereby upon the depression of said latch, said head assembly may be removed as a unit from said magazine assembly for clearing any jam which may occur.

SAMUEL LEBER. EMIL U. ZELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

